All history is contemporary history.
Benedetto CroceRead
History is various and sinuous and no essential part of the human spirit is ever wholly absent from it.
Interpretation
History reflects the complexities of the human experience, capturing the essence of our spirit.
Benedetto Croce's quote suggests that history is not a linear narrative but a complex tapestry that incorporates various aspects of human existence. It implies that every part of our spirit, whether good or bad, is woven into the fabric of history, making it a rich and diverse record of humanity’s journey.
In practice
In a debate about the importance of learning from the past, this quote illustrates how history encompasses all aspects of humanity.
All history is contemporary history.
Boredom, anger, sadness, or fear are not 'yours,' not personal. They are conditions of the human mind. They come and go. Nothing that comes and goes is you.
Life is lived forward but is judged in reverse.
Nothing can prevent us from another day and night, and the myth of perpetual flight.
Love of glory, fear of shame, greed for fortune, the desire to make life agreeable and comfortable, and the wish to depreciate others - all of these are often the causes of the bravery that is spoken so highly of by men.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
So much universe, and so little time.
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